I had an '05' WRX PPP - 260 'ish BHP but with standard WRX suspension ..... the car behaved faultlessly - unlike the driver but I should have bought an STi.

The WRX was too nice and too soft - if you can say that about a Scooby ... even a PPP'd one

I found the dealer superb (Cheam Motors) but the car depreciated really badly. Trim was fine (though cheap in 'feel') and looked exactly as I bought it after a year and 10K of abuse ... without any cleaning.

It got sold for my current - and second - S2000.

 

I agree MB - and honestly you don't notice the interior, too busy loving the car Just nice to know it isn't tat

And yes I have swapped the casette player!!

Oh, other plug point = mods are relatively inexpensive, even from reputable manufacturers. And yes a stock WRX is far too soft and bouncy, far too family saloon. Future I would think about a WRX PPP Wagon

 

Nice idea!

I read an Article a while ago about some Scoob tuner taking redundant stock STi bits for tuned STi and putting them on WRX's then tuning them. They claimed it was better than an STi. Though I'm not sure.

Edit - some scooby tuner = Greenwood Racing Developments

www.greenwoodracing.co.uk

 

IKEA make some functional furniture.

I prefer to keep it to a minimum in my house though.

I'm afraid that what Mark calls 'light weight with minimum frills,' translates into hard, easily scratched plastics, flimsy trim and a generally insubstantial feel. I know they have good seats, so does any car fitted with Recaros.

It may not matter to some owners that Imprevo interiors are some way off the best (and I wouldn't dispute they are no worse than many other cars at that price).

But it matters to some people, including me.

THAT'S the point.

If owners could accept that, rather than getting defensive, life would be much simpler.

 

I think the standard WRX engine is strong enough. The STi handling bits are very good though. But I think you can make a very good car out of a WRX.

I know a chap who took a standard MY00 UK spec engine to well over 400 bhp and it didn't miss a beat. Key is good intercooling and spot on mapping.

The STi does have forged pistons and sodium filled valves, stronger crank etc etc - but I think some go internal far far too early. Often on the advice of tuning houses...

The amount of scoobs and Evo's you see in Jap car which have uprated internals at 400 bhp - its pointelss. Maybe a different HG and stronger bolts is required...

Again with the PPP - there is little point as you can pay a lot less, and get the car Ecutek'd for between

 

Im not being defensive Pete, im saying the car is aimed at being minimal and fast. Enthusiasts and people in general would probably compalin if they started using heavier and more plush interiors.

Yep the interiors are dull, but not what the car is about.

I have to say though, the interior in my S suffered more than any of my Imprevo cars, but I think a lot of it is how you have to crawl in and out of it. I sort of put things like that it to one side and enjoy the rest of hte car.

 

I think the interior's have come a long way since the original classics, but nowhere near the standard of an Audi (who personally I think have the nicest interiors), but like you say, it's not why you buy the car. Scratches less easily than the Z4 I had, who you only had to look at and the dash scratched

External paint is a different matter

And the Audi Recaros I had in the S3 were the most uncomfortable seats I have ever sat in

I don't feel the need to be defensive about it, it's just I think a lot of people assume they are still like the original classics. Almost everybody who has got in this one has commented how nice the interior is compared to what they were expecting. Not denying it isn't the best though

However, back to the original question, I usually hear talk of reliability when it comes to Subaru, not engine blowups (unless dodgily tuned). MB - GRD would be tempting..... but PPP is warranted by Subaru......

 

I'm not sure GRD have a huge reputation.

There are many established comapnies out there, the best being BR Develompents who I have always used.

Ecutek mapping cant be spotted so it won't affect warranty!

 

I accept all of that Mark.

But I trust you accept that because I place quality of materials and general feel rather higher up my list of priorities, it doesn't mean I'm missing any point?

I simply state facts as I see them, and I'm careful to qualify those by recognising that some features (image for example) may not matter to some people. And you'll note I don't stray into areas I know nothing about regarding these cars, such as engine mods/flaws, etc.

It's not the same as presenting noise in a convertible as a flaw, more a comment on the general low rent feel of many cars out there.

It's a funny thing; I'm not really bothered about things like paint's propensity to chipping, but the interior quality, fit and finish does matter to me.

There is of course some subjectivity in all this. I've been told new Fords have very good interiors. Well, based on my recent experiences, some people are very easily pleased!

 

Got you, fair point